Socket assembly



Sept. 29, 1942. R. A. FUNK SOCKET ASSEMBLY Filed April 29, 1940INVENTOR.

RUSSELL A .FUNK

/1 Q W w w ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 29, 1942 UNlT EEICE 6 Glaims.

This invention relates generally to lamp socket assemblies and refersmore particularly to lamp sockets of the type adapted to be secured to amounting plate or support.

It is one of the principal objects of this invention to provide a lampsocket assembly composed of a relatively few, simple parts capable ofbeing inexpensively manufactured, assembled and installed.

Another advantageous feature of this invention resides in the provisionof a socket capable of being readily attached to the mounting means byslight rotation of the socket relative to the mounting means in onedirection and having means preventing rotation of the socket in theopposite direction to release the socket from the mounting means. Thearrangement is such as to provide a permanent, non-rattling connectionbetween the mounting means and socket which may be readily secured inplace by merely applying a slight twist to the socket.

The foregoing, as Well as other objects, will be made more apparent asthis description proceeds, especially when considered in connection withthe accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a socketconstructed in accordance with this invention and showing the sameattached to a typical mounting member or plate;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the socket assembly;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the planeindicated by the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the plane indicated by theline 4-4 of Figure 1.

Although the invention defined in the appended claims may beadvantageously used in connection with different types of socketassemblies, nevertheless, for the purpose of illustration, I haveselected a socket assembly of the type having a single electricalcontact directly connected to the source of electrical energy and havinga casing electrically connected to a common ground with the source ofelectrical energy to provide the return side of the circuit. The abovegeneral type of socket assembly is particularly adapted for use in thesingle Wire electrical circuit usually provided in motor vehicles.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, it will be noted that myimproved socket assembly is provided with a casing or shell H1 in theform oi a sheet metal tube having one end reduced to form an annularshoulder II and having bayonet slots 12 formed at diametrically op,-

posite sides of the opposite end. In accordance with conventionalpractice, the circumferentially extending portions 13 of the bayonetslots extend in opposite directions and cooperate with suitable pins I4extending outwardlyirom diametrically opposite sides of the base of anelectric light bulb l5 to detachably secure the latter in place.

Mounted within the casing 10 for sliding movement relative to the latteris a suitable contact carrying member I6 formed of a dielectric materialand having a contact I'l secured to the side thereof adjacent theelectric light bulb in a manner to engage the cooperating contact isprojecting from the base of the light bulb. The electrical contact I7 issecured to an electrical conductor H] which projects out of the casing50 through the reduced end of the latter. The contact ll is normallyyieldably urged into engagement with the cooperating contact It on thebulb by means of a coil spring 20 supported in the casing ID with oneend engaging the shoulder H and with the opposite end seated against thecontact carrying member [6.

In order to retain the contact carrying member IS in assembled relationwith the casing I!) when the bulb I5 is removed, I provide a pair oflugs 2! on diametrically opposite sides of the casing in positions toform an abutment for the contact carrying member [6. In the presentinstance, the lugs 2| are struck inwardly from the opposite side wallsof the casing 10 and are located in such a position that when theelectric light bulb is in assembled relation with the sock- .et, thecontact carrying member 16 is spaced from the lugs 2!. In other Words,the arrangement is such that the thrust exerted by the spring 29 isapplied to the contact it on the base of the bulb through the member Itwith the result that the spring resists movement of the pins [4 out ofthe recesses 22 formed in the sides 23 of the bayonet slot l2. Attentionis also called to the fact that the free ends of the lugs 2i face thereduced end of the casing It so that these lugs may be flexed outwardlyduring assembly of 26 of the bayonet slots l2 and. the circumferentiallyextending portions I3 of the latter slots are formed with extensions 21for receiving the lugs 25 upon rotation of the casing ID in onedirection.

The sides of the circumferentially extending portions [3 of the bayonetslots opposite the recesses 22 are formed with cam surfaces 28 for thepurpose of respectively guiding the lugs 25 into the extensions 21. Itmay be pointed out at this time that the width of the: lugs 25 and thewidth of the extensions 21 are less than the diameter of the pins M onthe base of the electric light bulb so that there is no danger of thepins entering the extensions 21. It will, of course, be understood thatthe casing I is assembled with the mounting member 24 before theelectric light bulb I is secured to the casing.

In the present instance, accidental rotation of the casing l0 relativeto the mounting member 24 in the reverse direction or in a direction tomove the lugs 25 toward the entrant portions 26 of the slots isprevented by means of a collar 30. The collar 30 is provided with a hubportion telescopically mounted on the tubular casing I0 and permanentlysecured thereto. The collar is preferably formed of sheet metal and isprovided with an annular flange 3i extending outwardly from one end ofthe hub portion. Upon reference to Figure 1, it will be noted that theflange is inclined slightly toward the bulb end of the socket and theperipheral edge portion of the flange is slit at a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced points in the manner designated by thereference character 32 in Figure 2. The slit portions of the peripheryof the flange 3| are bent to form a plurality of spring fingers 33having the free edge portions frictionally engageable with the adjacentside of the mounting member 24. The spring fingers are so arranged thatthe edge portions thereof merely slide over the surface of the mountingmember 24 during assembly of the socket with the latter member and biteinto the surface of the mounting member in the event an attempt is madeto rotate the socket in the opposite direction.

Referring again to Figure 1 of the drawing, it will be noted that thesides 34 of the circumferentially projecting extensions 21 of thebayonet slots l2 are tapered from the entrant ends of the extensionstoward the opposite sides of the latter so that the sides 34 have awedging engagement with the lugs 25 on the mounting member upon rotationof the socket assembly in a direction to move the lugs into theextensions 21. As a result, the socket assembly is drawn toward themounting member during assembly and the spring fingers 33 are placedunder tension against the mounting member. Any tendency to rotate thesocket in a direction to disengage the socket assembly from the mountingmember is resisted by the biting action of the free edges of the springfingers on the adjacent surface of the mounting member. It follows,therefore, that the socket assembly is, in effect, permanently securedto the mounting member and this is accomplished without interfering withinserting the bulb I5 into the socket or removing the same from thelatter.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In combination, a mounting member having an opening therethrough, alight socket having one end portion extending into the opening of themounting member, means responsive to rotation of the socket relative tothe mountin member in one direction to secure the socket to the mountingmember and to effect an axial movement of the socket toward saidmounting member, and a plurality of spring fingers carried by the socketin positions to engage the adjacent surface of the mounting member uponaxial movement of the socket toward the mounting member by said meansand having edge portions adapted to bite into the adjacent surface ofthe mounting member upon rotation of the socket relative to the mountingmember in a direction opposite the direction of rotation aforesaid.

2. In combination, a mounting member having an opening therethrough, alight socket comprising a casing having one end extending through theopening in the mounting member and having a slot therein, a projectionon the mounting member engageable in said slot upon rotation of thecasing in one direction relative to the mounting member, one side of theslot being tapered to cooperate with the projection in drawing thecasing axially toward the mounting member, and spring fingers carried bythe casing in positions to frictionally engage the adjacent side of themounting member upon axial movement of the casing relative to themounting member and having edge portions adapted to bite into theadjacent surface of the mounting member upon rotation of the casingrelative to said member in a direction opposite the direction ofrotation aforesaid.

3. In combination, a mounting member having an opening therethrough, alight socket comprising a casing having one end extending through theopening, a plurality ofspring fingers carried by the casing and havingthe free ends engageable with one side of the mounting member in amanner to bite into engagement with the mounting member upon rotation ofthe casing in one direction relative to the mounting member, and meansresponsive to rotation of the casing in the opposite direction to securethe casing to the mounting member and having provision for shifting thecasing axially relative to the mounting member in a direction to tensionthe spring fingers against the mounting member.

4. In combination, a mounting member having an opening therethrough, alight socket comprising a casing having one end extending through theopening, a flange extending outwardly from the casing and having aplurality of circumferentially spaced spring fingers adapted to biteinto engagement with the adjacent side of the mounting member uponrotation of the casing in one direction relative to the mounting member,cooperating means on the mounting member and casing engageable with eachother upon rotation of the casing in the opposite direction relative tothe mounting member to secure the casing to the mounting member andhaving provision for shifting the casing axially of the mounting memberin a direction to tension the spring fingers against the mountingmember.

5. In combination, a mounting member having an opening therethrough, alight socket having one end portion extending into the opening of themounting member, means responsive to rotation of the socket relative tothe mounting member in one direction to secure the socket to themounting member and to cause a shifting movement of the socket in anaxial direction toward said mounting member, and a flange extendinggenerally radially outwardly from the socket and havingcircumferentially spaced spring fingers at the periphery thereof adaptedto be tensioned by the mounting member upon axial movement of the sockettoward the mounting member by the means aforesaid, said spring fingershaving edge portions adapted to slide over the adjacent surface of themounting member upon rotation of the socket in a direction to secure thesocket to the mounting member and adapted to bite into the mountingmember upon rotation of the socket relative to the mounting member inthe opposite direction.

6. In combination, a mounting member having an opening therethrough, alight socket having one end portion extending into the opening of themounting member, cooperating interengaging meanson the socket andmounting member responsive to rotation of the socket in one directionrelative to the mounting member to secure the socket to the mountingmember and to shift the socket axially toward the mounting member, and aflange extending generally radial- 1y outwardly from the socket andhaving circumferentially spaced portions at the periphery thereof slitin a generally radial direction to provide spring fingers adapted to betensioned by the mounting member upon axial movement of the sockettoward the mounting member, said spring fingers being arranged to slideover the adjacent surface of the mounting member upon rotation of thesocket relative to the mounting member in a direction to secure thesocket to said mounting member and adapted to bite into the mountingmember upon rotation of the socket in the opposite direction relative tothe mounting member.

RUSSELL A. FUNK.

